Maui Business

AARP Hawaiʻi welcomes Maui resident Grant Chun, a retired attorney and housing executive, as its new state president. The state president, a volunteer position, works closely with the state director, staff and volunteers to lead AARP’s work in Hawaiʻi. 

Christy Chung has joined Maui Economic Opportunity as Chief Operating Officer. Her job is to manage, coordinate and support MEO’s day-to-day operations and more than 30 programs in the agency’s five departments and offices in Hāna and on Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. She also is overseeing facilities and ensuring contract compliance.

Wildfire survivor and advocate Kai Pelayo and the Stupski Foundation, which gifted Maui Economic Opportunity $450,000 for early childhood programs, were named Volunteer and Benefactor of the Year respectively at MEO’s annual Volunteer Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 13.

Multiple Maui properties and employees earned accolades including the Wailea Beach Marriott, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, the Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, the Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua, the Hampton Inn & Suites, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, and the Fairmont Kea Lani.

New and returning officers and board members of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce convened for a strategic planning workshop on Saturday to reaffirm the organization’s mission, reassess priorities, and set renewed goals focused on streamlined programming, stronger member engagement, and long-term capacity building.

The Fukunaga Scholarship Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026 Fukunaga Scholarship through Feb. 23, 2026. In its 76th year, the Foundation continues its commitment to supporting Hawaiʻi students who plan to pursue degrees in business or related fields.

Patrick Klein, a lifelong Hawaii resident with deep ties to the local business and not-for-profit community, officially took over as CEO of Easterseals Hawaii at the start of the new year.

A new platform has launched on Maui, aiming to lower the cost of living on the island by redirecting tourism dollars into the local economy. Mahalo Rewards, developed by a Maui-born software engineer, eliminates marketing fees for local businesses by utilizing a visitor-funded model.

Sedona Wachaiyu has joined the Maui Economic Opportunity Board of Directors as Head Start Policy Council representative.

Small business owners looking to work with government agencies can attend a free workshop in Kīhei on April 7 hosted by state and federal transportation officials.

Delta Air Lines will launch daily nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Kahului Airport beginning Dec. 19, 2026, opening a new direct pipeline from the Upper Midwest.

US Reps. Jill Tokuda, a Democrat from Hawaiʻi, and Neal Dunn, a Republican from Florida—members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party—introduced the Rare Earth Magnet Market Revitalization Act. The bill is aimed at strengthen America’s supply chains, protect national security, and rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity for rare earth magnets — critical components used in everything from missiles to cars to cell phones.

The Maui Economic Development Board will host a Maui Tech ʻOhana session on March 11 featuring interactive games designed to help those working in the island’s growing technology sector. Doug Nelson, founder of Kinection and partner at The Prompt, will lead the event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Malcolm Center, 1305 N. Holopono […]

Akakū Maui Community Media will host itʻs March Maui Business Tuesdays event with the theme “Maui Local Artists.” The salon will be held Tuesday March 3, 2026 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Akakū Center in Suite 204 & hybrid via Zoom webinar.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is excited to reveal this year’s entertainment for their 5th Annual BizMixx Maui: Stetsons & Stilettos event, on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, in collaboration with Hawaiian Electric, is bringing back the popular Maui Power Pathways Training Program, a free, 10‑week workforce training opportunity designed to prepare local residents for potential careers with the island’s electric utility. This year, the program will be offered on both Maui and Molokaʻi, expanding access to hands‑on energy sector training.

Peter Ho, who has served as chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawai‘i since 2010, will retire effective March 31, the bank announced Tuesday. The bank’s Board of Directors has unanimously selected current President and Chief Banking Officer James Polk to succeed Ho as president and chief executive officer upon Ho’s retirement. Polk […]

Four Seasons Resort Lāna‘i recently named Jessica Candy as its new spa director. In her new role, Candy will oversee all aspects of the resort’s spa and wellness operations. Her responsibilities include daily management, team development, treatments, retail, fitness facilities and the Yoga Wellness program. Candy joins the resort with nearly 20 years of experience […]

Women’s Fund of Hawaiʻi announced its Fall 2025 grant awards, totaling $87,000 in support of nine nonprofit programs uplifting and empowering women and girls in Hawai’i.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union is now accepting applications for its 2026 Investing in Education grant program, continuing its long-standing commitment to education. Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to eligible public school teachers across the state to help fund classroom supplies and basic necessities, such as books, technology, and other learning resources. Applications are available now through April 3, 2026.